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KEARNS -- Unified police say there was a pattern of abuse involving a Kearns couple and a 4-year-old girl who died Sunday.
Police have arrested 21-year-old Clinton Hart on child abuse charges. His girlfriend, Marina Navarro, is facing homicide charges in connection with the death of his daughter, 4-year-old Vanessa Hart.
Though police say they've never been called to investigate a complaint of abuse or neglect at the home where Hart and Navarro were staying, Lt. Don Hutson with the Unified Police Department says there's evidence that the 4-year-old had been abused before.
"It could be one of those cases that we've talked about before where you have a pattern of abuse associated with both parents over a long period of time," Hutson said. "What ultimately led to her death could be that pattern of abuse as opposed to one specific incident."
Police say Navarro called her boyfriend to their home near 5000 West Silvertip Drive (5440 South) Sunday afternoon, telling him the little girl had fallen down the stairs.
When he arrived arrived, he found Vanessa unconscious, so he took the girl to Pioneer Valley Hospital about 2 p.m., and she was immediately transferred to Primary Children's Medical Center.
Hospital personnel there did not believe the child's injuries were caused by falling down stairs, so they called authorities.
Police say the girl was badly beaten and suffered head and internal injuries. She died at Primary Children's late Sunday night.
E-mail: mgiauque@ksl.com
